Sometimes, even when you're crazy busy (like "I probably shouldn't sleep for the next month" kind of busy)...you can manage to make something for people you love. I hinted at it on Instagram with this picture, but I made each of my parents hats for their birthdays this year. It's been a few years since they got anything handknit (selfish knitter for life, yo!) and I figured it was time once more. My mom's was at the end of February, so she already got her version of my Tamborim pattern because she admired mine at Christmas so much. Hers is sans pom-pom and the length is slightly shorter. My dad's birthday is today--hopefully you get your hat in the mail before you see this blog post, Papa!--and for him I decided to improvise.
Please ignore my terrible lighting and bad self-photography skills.
I used the brim construction from my Free Cecily Hat, but worked it for longer so he has a nice thick brim to cover his ears when walking, hiking or cross-country skiing. The body of the hat is an oversized garter rib pattern that I "made up" but probably already exists: Knit all sts on Rounds 1 & 2, *k2p2* on Rounds 3 & 4. I winged the crown decreases and tried to keep the ribbing intact as it narrowed. Yarn is Dream in Color Classy, possibly in Cloud Jungle--I had it in my stash without the label.
I'm really pleased with the end result! Sometimes it's nice to create without writing everything down with plans to publish it, and I like knowing that my papa now has a one-of-a-kind creation.
P.S. My birthday is at the end of the month and I would not say no to a hat. #jussayin